BACKGROUND

Thymol (THY), which is a monocyclic monoterpene, found in oil of thyme various other kinds of plants. Until today, although different biological properties of THY have been indicated, its neurological toxicity has never been investigated.

METHODS

In this study, in vitro antiproliferative (by 3-(4,5 dimetylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenlytetrazolium bromide (MTT) test), genotoxic (by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)) and oxidative effects (by total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative status (TOS) analysis) of THY (0-400 mg/L) were assessed on cultured primary rat neurons (CPRNs) and N2a neuroblastoma cells.

RESULTS

The obtained data from MTT analysis revealed that THY (only at 400 mg/L) led to significant (p<0.05) decreases of the cell viability in cultured primary rat neurons. And, THY was found to inhibit cell growth in N2a cells at concentrations of 200 and 400 mg/L. Again, DNA damage rates were statistically indifferent (p>0.05) in both treated cell type as compared to control group. The present results also showed that 10, 25 and 50 mg/L of THY application into the cell cultures supported antioxidant capacity in primary rat neurons but not in N2a cells.

CONCLUSIONS

In a conclusion, these results confirm that THY may have antiproliferative potential against brain tumor cells involving oxidative alteration.